![]() ![]() Perhaps due to his association with crops and calendar cycles, Quetzalcoatl evolved into an Aztec symbol of death and resurrection. ![]() The god was credited with introducing maize, books, and calendars to man. But his accomplishments didn’t stop there. Though Quetzalcoatl played important role in many Mesoamerican civilizations, for the Aztecs he was one of two creators of the world. Indeed, archaeologists have found a plethora of feathered serpent sculptures adorning temples across the region. His first appearance in the historical records dates back to the ancient culture of the Olmecs, who flourished in Mesoamerica from around 1200 BCE to 400 BCE. The god went on to become one of the important religious symbols to the Mesoamerican cultures that succeed the Olmec. The Aztec symbols, and their meanings, contained within their depictions of the god are quite fascinating. Often depicted as a feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl was one of the most important gods and symbols in Aztec culture. Quetzalcoatl from the Codex Telleriano-Remensis As a fierce bird of prey, the eagle became associated with the sky, war, and one of their principal deities, Huitzilopochtli. The cuauhtli symbol was even used to denoted a day in the Aztec calendar. The eagle, or cuauhtli in the Nahuatl language, was one of the most important and pervasive symbols of the Aztec world. Jaguars were so important, they even had a day named after them in the Aztec calendar. The images, likely made by etching into fresh mud on the damp ceiling, are undated. ![]() The ferocity of the jaguar and its namesake warriors also lead the Jaguar warriors to become associated with one of the two creator gods, Tezcatlipocha. The images measure between 0.93 meters and 3.37 meters long, making the biggest of them the largest cave art in North America, the researchers report today in Antiquity. Adorning in clothing designed to mimic the natural spots of the jaguar, these fearsome warriors were one of the two most revered bodies of soldiers in the Aztec Empire – the other being the Eagle Warriors. Known as the Jaguar warriors, this elite corp of fighters were made up of distinguished veterans who had proven themselves in battle. More than 600 figures arranged in the clusters are depicted inKasheli, RundhyeTali, DevacheGothane, Barsu, Devi Hasol, Jambharun, Ukshi and Kudopi in southern Maharashtra and Pansaymol in Goa, are the most comprehensive, well-preserved and artistically distinct Geoglyphs evidencing a cultural legacy of 12000 years. The jaguar’s natural stealth, power, and speed made them the perfect symbol for one of the Aztec’s elite warrior class. ![]()
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